Which term refers to the path a ball would take if it rolls down a slope, commonly described as the line of least resistance?

Which term refers to the path a ball would take if it rolls down a slope, commonly described as the line of least resistance?

• A. Trajectory
• B. Line of Least Resistance
• C. Path
• D. Fall Line

Answer: (D)

The key idea is the direction a ball naturally follows down a slope under gravity. That path is the fall line—the line of steepest descent on the slope. Gravity pulls straight downward, and as the ball sits on the inclined surface, the component of that force acting along the slope guides it along the direction of greatest downward slope. This makes the ball accelerate most along the fall line, so it represents the actual downhill path you’d expect. Trajectories describe paths in air or space or more general planned routes, not specifically the downhill line on a slope. A generic “path” is too vague to capture the specific downhill direction, and the phrase line of least resistance isn’t a precise term for this downhill motion. Therefore, the fall line is the correct descriptor for the ball’s downhill path.

The key idea is the direction a ball naturally follows down a slope under gravity. That path is the fall line—the line of steepest descent on the slope. Gravity pulls straight downward, and as the ball sits on the inclined surface, the component of that force acting along the slope guides it along the direction of greatest downward slope. This makes the ball accelerate most along the fall line, so it represents the actual downhill path you’d expect.

Trajectories describe paths in air or space or more general planned routes, not specifically the downhill line on a slope. A generic “path” is too vague to capture the specific downhill direction, and the phrase line of least resistance isn’t a precise term for this downhill motion. Therefore, the fall line is the correct descriptor for the ball’s downhill path.